A normal wound will take roughly about 3 weeks to heal. However, there are some wounds that take months to heal and some even years. Very simple and local factors like the trauma, condition of the wound, edema and infection can greatly affect the healing of a wound. Systemic factors like age, nutrition status as well as general health can also affect the healing of a wound. Many simple home remedies can speed up healing of cuts.
Causes of Cuts Not Healing
1. Contamination and Infection
Infection of a wound is one of the most common reasons why the wound delays in healing. Once a wound is infected or is contaminated, the immune system uses a lot of energy to fight the bacteria caused by the contamination or the infection. Very little energy is left for healing. The bacteria will produce toxins that are harmful. The toxins, in turn, interfere with the healing process. The toxins also cause cell death. Wounds from bites are very likely to be highly contaminated.
2. Impaired Circulation and Oxygenation
Nutrients and oxygen are delivered to the healing area by the blood. Blood also removes the bacteria, toxins as well as debris that are present in the healing area. Conditions that reduce the circulation or flow of blood and blood oxygenation are very common causes of prolonged healing of a wound or even poor wound healing. Diabetes, advanced age, high blood pressure and peripheral vascular disease are common factors that affect blood circulation interfering with the healing of a wound. Chronic lung disease and anemia interfere with the oxygenation of blood. Obesity also slows down the rate at which a wound will heal. This is because there are fewer blood vessels in fatty tissues. Tobacco is also known to interfere with the healing of wounds.
3. Condition of the Wound
The condition and state the wound is in really affects its ability to heal. Repeated trauma or excessive pressure delays the healing of a wound. Dehydration also causes the cells to dry up and crust over. On the other hand, over hydration causes cuts too moist and erode. It is important that you remove necrotic or dead tissue lest the wound will not heal.
4. Medications
Drugs like corticosteroids, which have the ability to inhabit the inflammatory response, delay wound healing. Chemo therapy stops the cells from proliferating, and this impairs wound healing.
5. Age
Patients who are older heal slower than healthy adults and children. This is because elderly people have very fragile skin and their risk for infection is higher because of low antibody production, slow inflammatory response and slow endocrine system function. In addition to all this, elderly people have a greater likelihood to have chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes which interfere with the circulation of blood as well as oxygenation.
6. Poor nutrition
The body needs calories, protein, vitamins A, C and zinc for wound healing. Therefore, a well balanced diet is essential. Vitamins play a great role in the healing process of a wound. It is, therefore, very important that you take vitamin supplements.
Remedies for Cuts Not Healing
1. Use Natural Antiseptic to Prevent Infection
Use a natural antiseptic to clean the wound from time to time. This fights infections and promotes healing as well. It is advised that you moist dress your wound since dressing helps prevent infection.
The best natural antiseptic is the Echinacea angustifolia. It is widely known for its ability to fight infection as well as promote the process of healing.
2. Increase Your Protein Intake
The human skin is made of protein. Extra protein is required when you have a cut or a wound. This is especially so for those undergoing an operation since surgery increases the need for protein and calories. Your body needs to manufacture or produce antibodies and immune cells to mend the wound and reduce inflammation. Without adequate protein, recovery can be delayed, and the risk of getting an infection made greater.
3. Use Herbs
There exists a very wide range of herbal creams for treating wounds. They include tea tree oil, Echinacea, calendula among many others. A combination of sage, oregano oils and hypericum in a base of olive oil is a traditional remedy for fighting infection, as well as healing wounds. Comfey and aloe Vera are known to help in the healing minor wounds. However, they are not recommended for deep wounds since they are known to delay the healing of deep and surgical wounds.
4. Try Honey
Anti-viral substances and enzymes which are present in honey are great for wounds. Honey has been found to promote faster healing, as well as lower the risk of infection. Manuka honey is particularly effective.
5. Apply Aloe Vera Gel
Applying aloe Vera gel to your wound or cut twice every day will help moisturize the wound and this facilitates faster healing.
6. Use Witch Hazel
Use it twice a day. You can get witch hazel from the chemist. Apply witch hazel on cotton wool and dub it on the wound or cut.
7. Use Sugar
Clean the wound and pour sugar on it. If the wound is large, cover it with honey before sprinkling sugar on it. This will help the sugar to stay in place. Cover the wound with a bandage and use a tape to secure it. The bandage prevents bacteria from infecting the wound. Change the bandage and clean the wound before putting on a new bandage. Rather than removing the bandage slowly, rip it off. This hard motion will remove dead tissue.